Peace Collapses: These Two Muslim Countries at War Again - Casualties Mount

Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have heated up again after a cross-border attack killed at least seven people and injured 85 others in Kunar province, Afghanistan, on Monday (27 April 2026) local time.

The Afghan government stated that mortars and missiles fired from Pakistani territory struck the capital of Kunar, Asadabad, and several residential areas, including the vicinity of a university campus.

Afghan government deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said the casualties included civilians, from women and children to students.

“This mortar and missile attack hit civilian areas,” Fitrat said, as quoted by The Guardian on Tuesday (28 April 2026).

Kunar’s Director of Information and Culture, Najibullah Hanafi, confirmed the death toll at seven, with at least 85 injured.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Higher Education also reported that around 30 students and lecturers were wounded in the attack, which struck Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University.

Local residents described the sudden attack. Sahatullah, a resident, said his nephew was injured while playing outside the house. “He was playing outside, and artillery fire came and hit there,” he said.

A teacher, Zmarai Kunari, also said one of his family members was killed in the attack. “This is my brother. He was injured by artillery fire; he went to pick up his uncle,” he said.

However, the Pakistani government denied the accusations. In its official statement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information emphasised that no attack targeted civilian facilities, including the university.

“Pakistan’s targeting was precise and intelligence-based. No attack was carried out against Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan University. The claim is baseless and false,” the statement said.

This incident is the first major violence since peace negotiations mediated by China in early April. In the meeting in Urumqi, the two countries had agreed to restrain conflict escalation.

Nevertheless, the situation at the border remains fragile. Since late February, clashes between the two countries have killed hundreds, triggered by cross-border attacks.

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harbouring the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group, which frequently carries out attacks in its territory. Kabul denies the accusation.

Previously, the two countries had agreed to a temporary ceasefire during Eid al-Fitr. However, sporadic clashes continue to occur, showing that peace efforts have not yielded significant results.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recorded that this conflict has caused around 94,000 people to be displaced as of early April.